A SHIPPER'S GUIDE TO PACKAGING
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A SHIPPERS GUIDE TO PACKAGING
Shipper ResponsibilitiesShippers are responsible for proper • packaging • markingandlabeling • descriptionsonallshipperdocumentation
Shippersmustfollowallexistingtariffandshippingregulationsrelatedtotheirproduct.
Proper PackagingIntroduction
Shipmentsmustbeproperlypackedtoensuredamage-freetransportationwithordinarycareinhandling.Theproperpackagingofgoodsfortransportationrequiresagoodunderstandingoftheproductanddistributionenvironment.Therearethreeessentialstoanypackage: 1.) outerpackaging 2.) innerpackaging 3.) sealingmethod
Understandingandfollowingthesepackagingguidelinescanhelpensuredamage-freefreightmovement.
Hazards of DistributionBelowarethemostcommonhazardspresentinfreighttransportation.Theseare“normal”hazardsofdistributionandthereforemustalwaysbeconsideredwhenpreparingashipmentforLTLtransportation.
Punctures and Abrasion:Occurswhenthepackageshiftsorcomesincontactwithotherpackagesormaterialhandlingequipmentduringtransportation.Theycanalsobetheresultofimproperorinsufficientinternalpackagingthatdoesnotpreventthecontentsfromshifting.
Compression:Occurswhenexternalforcesareappliedtothesides,facesorcornersofapackage.Stacking,shock,vibration,materialhandlingequipmentandtie-downstrapsallgeneratecompressionforcesthatmayresultinpackageorproductdamage.Properpackagingwillpreventdamageduetonormalcompression.
Environmental exposures:Highandlowhumiditycanresultincondensationorcorrosion,anditcangreatlyreducetherigidityandcompressionresistanceofpaper-basedproductssuchascardboardcontainers.Temperatureextremescanrangefromsubzerototempsinexcessof100degreesFandcandramaticallyaffecttheperformancecharacteristicsofpackagingmaterial.Othercommonenvironmentalexposuresinclude,butarenotlimitedto,dirt,dust,odorsandprecipitation.Ifaproductorpackagewouldbeconsidereddamagedifexposedtothesehazards,theshippermusttakeextrameasurestoensurethepackagingcanprotecttheshipment.
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Shipment Handling:Propercushioningcanreducedamagecausedbytheshockincurredduringhandlingandovertheroadtransportation.Itisimportanttonotethatshipmentswillmostlikelybehandledwithaforkliftatsomepointduringdistribution.Properpackagingmustprotectthecontentsfromthedropsandimpactscommonlyassociatedwithhandlingoperations.
Shock:Occursduringhandlingandtransportationasaresultofimpactswithmechanicalhandlingorroadconditions.Propercushioningcanreducedamagecausedbyshock.Mostproductswillrequiresomelevelofshockprotectiontopreventdamageduringnormalhandlingandtransportation.
Vibration:Isnormaloccurrenceinovertheroadtransportation.Propercushioningcanabsorbandreducethenegativeeffectsvibrationcanhaveonproducts.
The National Motor Freight Classification. (NMFC) IntegraltotheNationalMotorFreightClassification(NMFC)areinternationallyrecognizedspecifications,rulesandrequirementsfortheproperpackagingofgoodsmovingbymotorcarrier.
ThepackagingprovisionsintheNMFCfallintothreebasiccategories: 1. Generalpackagingdefinitionsandspecifications 2. Specificationsforpackagesthathavebeenapprovedexpresslyfor thetransportationofcertaincommodities 3. Performance-basedpackagingcriteria
Thegeneralpackagingdefinitionsandspecificationsareforcommonlyusedpackages,suchasbags,crates,drumsandofcoursefiberboardboxes.TheseprovisionsarefoundinvariousruleswithintheNMFCandsetrequirementsfortheconstructionandintegrityofthepackage.Forinstance,theItem222seriesofrulesenumeratestherequirementsforfiberboardboxes,includingsizeandweightlimits,thestrengthofthefiberboardused,andtheboxmanufacturer’scertificatethatmustappearonallconformingboxes.
TheNMFCalsoprovidesspecificationsforliterallyhundredsofpackagesthatareauthorizedexpresslyforthetransportationofcertaincommodities.Theseareessentiallyexceptionstothegeneralpackagingdefinitionsandspecifications,andeachisassignedauniquepackagenumber.Throughlaboratorytestingand/oractualtestshipments,thesenumberedpackageshavebeenproventoofferadequateprotectioninthemotorcarrierenvironmentforthetransportofparticularcommodities.
Examplesofpackagedesignrequirementsare: Item222 FiberboardBoxes Item245 CrateDesignRequirements Item255 Drums Item265 Pallets Item258 PlasticPails
Theseareonlyafewexamples.LiterallyeverypackagedesignisreviewedintheNMFC.ShippersareencouragedtorefertotheNMFCforallpackagingrequirements.
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GeneralpackagingrequirementsareaddressedinItem680.Asummaryincludes:
Item 680 PACKING OR PACKAGING-GENERAL Sec. 1. (a)Thedefinitionsoforspecificationsforpackingrequirementsarenamedin:(1)Items200through299,(2)numberedpackagesand(3)Notereferences.
Thematerialandconstructionspecificationsthereinareminimumrequirementsandmustbeobserved.
Whetherornotinteriorpackingdevicesareapartofspecificrequirements,interiorpackingdevicesmustbeprovidedwheresucharenecessarytoaffordadequateprotectionagainstdamagetothecontentsofacontainer.
Articlesorarticlesandnecessaryinteriorpackingdevicesmustreasonablyoccupythefullcubiccapacityoftheoutershippingcontainer
Sec. 7. (b)Articlesinpackagesorshippingforms,asauthorizedinindividualitemdescriptions,willbeacceptedwhenunitizedorsecuredonlifttruckskids,palletsorplatformsmeetingtherequirementsofItem265.Unlessotherwiseprovided,wheninthespecificationsofnumberedpackagesorinindividualitemdescriptionsarticlesarerequiredtomoveonlifttruckskids,palletsorplatforms,suchskids,palletsorplatformsmustmeettherequirementsofItem265.Exceptwhererequiredinindividualitemdescriptions,itisrecommendedthatarticlesunitizedorsecuredonlifttruckskids,palletsorplatformsnotoverhangtheskid,palletorplatformdeck.
Selecting Corrugated Fiberboard Boxes EventhoughCFBsarethemostcommontypeofshippingcontainer,manypeopledonotunderstandthestrengthsandweaknessesofthepackage.Corrugatedfiberboardcandegradeovertime,losingasmuchas50percentofitsstrengthaftersittingjustsixmonths.Humidityandmoisturealsocausemajorproblemsforthispaper-basedproduct.Arelativehumidityof90percentcanweakenCFBbyasmuchas60percent.MostCFBsdonotmaintainenoughstrengthandintegritytobereusedandshouldbethoughtofassingle-usepackages.
ThegreatestcompressionstrengthofCFBiswithin1”oftheedgescreatedbytwoadjacentpanels.• Thelengthofthedottedarrowisproportionaltotheload bearingabilityatthatpoint.
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NMFC Item 222 addresses the requirements for CFBs. Boxmakers’certificates(BMC)aretypicallyfoundonthebottomflaps.TheBMCstatesthemaximumsize(length+width+height)andthemaximumweighttheboxcanholdbasedonthematerialusedtoconstructit.Thesesizeandweightlimitshavelongbeentheminimumrequirementscitedbythe
NMFC.TheBMCsindicatethemaximumsizeandthemaximumweightallowed.Exceedingtheselimitscouldresultinadamageclaimbeingdenied.
Box Maker’s Certificate
Inner Packaging NMFCItem680notes“Whetherornotinteriorpackingdevicesareapartofspecificrequirements,interiorpackingdevicesmustbeprovidedwheresucharenecessarytoaffordadequateprotectionagainstdamagetothecontentsofacontainer.
Articlesorarticlesandnecessaryinteriorpackingdevicesmustreasonablyoccupythefullcubiccapacityoftheoutershippingcontainer.”
ManyproductsareavailabletomeettheNMFCrequirementsregardinginnerpackaging.Someexamplesarenotedbelow.Theshippershouldcarefullyreviewtheirproductandselectthemosteffectiveinnerpackagingmaterial.
Inner Packaging MaterialsBubble Wrap Bubblewrapisalightandflexiblepackagingmaterialmadeoflow-densitypolyethylene,idealtoprotectfragileandirregularlyshapedproducts.Thisgivesaverygoodsurfaceprotectionandpreventionagainstshocks.Bubblewrapcanalsobeusedtofillvoidsinsidetheshippingcontainer.
Corrosion Protection Packaging Material Duringstorageandtransport,non-treatedmetalscancorrode.Corrosionisaresultofoxidationoraggressiveelementsintheair.Traditionalprotectionmaterialsagainstcorrosionsuchasoil,greaseorpaintaretimeandlaborintensiveandnotenvironmentallyfriendly.VCI(Vaporcorrosioninhibitor)technologyprotectsuntreatedmetalagainstcorrosion/oxidation.
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Foam Cushioning Whenproductsneedprotectionfromvibrationsandshocks,awiderangeofdifferentmaterialsisavailableManypackagingvendorscandesignfoamcushioningspecifictotheneedsoftheproduct.
Honeycomb Honeycombisapackagingmaterialconsistingofkraftpaperformedintocontinuousuniformhexagonalcells.Duetothewiderangeofapplications,thehoneycombcanbeconsideredasbothinnerandouterpackaging.
Loose Fill Loosefillisavoidfillingandshockabsorbingpackagingmaterial.Polystyreneistraditionallyusedasarawmaterialbutloosefillcanbemadeofdifferentmaterials
Thispackagingmaterialisveryflexible.Itfillstheemptyspacesintheouterpackaginganddependingontheshapeoftheloosefillitcanalsoprotectagainstshock.
Paper Pad Paperpadisablocking,fillingandwrappingmaterialthatissuitableforirregularshapedproductsandfragileparts.Alsocushioningpropertiescanbeachieveddependingonthesystemused.
Marking and Labeling ShipmentsAllfreightmustbeproperlylabeledandmarked. Eachpiecemustbelegiblyanddurablymarkedwiththenameandaddress,includingcorrectZIPcodeoftheshipperandconsignee.
Handling and Precautionary Markings Handlinglabelsshouldbehighlyvisibleand,withfewexceptions,onallsidesofthepackage.
Itisrecommendedthatbothpictorialmarkingsandtextbeusedforeachofthespecialhandlingrequirements.ForacompletelistofacceptablemarkingsrefertoNMFCitem682.
Belowareafewexamplesofhandlingmarkingscommonlyused.
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NMFC Item 682 - PICTORIAL PRECAUTIONARY MARKINGS
Symbolsmaybeprintedoradheredasalabel.Forprominence,suchsymbolsmaybewithinaborderorhaveanopposingbackgroundcolor.
Fragile–HandleWithCare UpArrows
TopHeavy KeepDry ProtectFromFreezing
Labeling Eachpiecemustbelegiblyanddurablymarkedwiththenameandaddress,includingcorrectZIPcodeoftheshipperandconsignee.
Theshipperandconsigneeinformationonthecartons/freight,mustmatchtheshipperandconsigneeinformationonthebilloflading.Addressmarkingsshouldbelocatedasshownintheexamplesbelow.
DOThazardousmateriallabelsarerequiredwhenshippinghazardousmaterialsasspecifiedbytheDOT.
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Sealing Sealingthepackageproperlykeepstheboxintactandthecontentssecureinside.
RecommendedThree-StripTapingMethod(HTapingMethod) • Usepressure-sensitiveplastictapeatleast2”wide • Distributethetapeevenlyacrossflapsandseams,usingtheHtapingmethodshown. • Applyatleast3stripsoftapetothetopandbottomsidesofthecarton. • Tapeacrossallseamsandflaps. • Rubtheentiretapesurfacetoensurecontactandadhesion
Non-packagingtapessuchasmaskingtape,ducttape,cellophaneandothersuchtapesshouldnotbeusedasasubstituteforqualityboxsealingtape.
Palletizing CartonsStacking and Palletizing Palletoverhang,widegapsbetweenpalletboards(apertures),misalignmentswithinacolumnstackandincorrectweightandsizedistributionallcontributetolossofcontainerstrengthandpoorpalletizationresultinginproductdamage.
Column Stack Acommonmisconceptionisthatinterlockingcartonsonapalletisa goodpracticeandhelpstostabilizethepalletizedload.Interlockingstackingcanreducethecarton’stop-to-bottomcompressionstrengthupto50percent.Therefore,column-stackingistherecommendedmethod.Stackboxesincolumns,corner-to-cornerandedge-to-edgeforthegreateststackingstrength.Thepalletcanbestabilizedandsecuredwithbandingorstretch-wrap.
Overhang Cartonsthatoverhangthepalletedgecanhavetheircompression strengthreducedbyasmuchas32percent.Overhangalsoexposesthepackagestotears,puncturesandimpactsduringnormalhandlingandsortingoperations.
HTAPINGMETHOD
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Misaligned Misaligningcartonscanreducetheboxes’compressionstrengthbyasmuchas30percent.
Degrading Long-termstoragecandegradecorrugatedandotherpaper-basedproducts.Cartonssittinginawarehousecanloseupto50percentoftheirstrength.
High Humidity Donotstorecorrugatedorotherpaper-basedpackagingmaterialinhighhumidity.Arelativehumidityof90percentcouldreducethepackages’resistancetocompressionby60percent.
Pyramid-Shaped Loads Pyramid-shapedpalletloadsareoneofthebiggestpackagingproblemsconfrontingthetransportationindustry.Sincepyramidpalletloadsdon’tprovidealevelsurface,thetopcartonsareexposedtopotentialdamagefromothershipments.Alevelsurfacewillprovidemaximumstrengthandstability,andensuresthattheload,totheextentpracticable,willremainintact.
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Pallets NMFC Item 265 Palletsassistintheconsolidationandhandlingofpackagesbyallowingmechanicalhandlingequipmenttomoveshipments.Forkliftsandpalletjacksareusedtoloadandunloadpalletizedproduct.Ahighqualitypalletcangreatlyreducedamageassociatedwithmechanicalhandling.
• Palletsshouldbelargeenoughtoaccommodatetheshipmentwithoutoverhang. Anythingoverhangingthepalletedgeswillbesubjecttoimpactsthancanresultin punctures,abrasionsandcompressiondamage. • Palletswithbrokenormissingpartsmustnotbeused. • Anyfastenersthatprotrudemustberemovedorresecuredsotheyareflushor belowthesurfacebeforeloadingpackagesonthepallet. • Spacingbetweenthedeckboardsshouldbeasnarrowaspossibletoensurethecorners ofcorrugatedboxesaresupportedandnotalignedoverthegapstopreventforkliftdamage frombelow. • Knowtheratedcapacityofthepalletandneverexceedit. • Bottomdeckboardsshouldalwaysbeused.Theyincreasethestrengthandintegrityof thepalletandcanhelpstabilizetheloadduringhandingandtransportation. • Alwaysuseafour-wayentrypallet.
Afour-wayentrypalletallowsforkliftaccessfromallsidesmakingiteasiertoloadandhandle.Italsolimitsthepalletsexposuretodamagewhencarriershavetochiselunderanedgeofapalletwhenthereisnoentrypointavailableonsidesorends.
Wood Packages Cratingshipmentscanhelpprotecttheproductandallowforsafe,damage-freetransitifitisdoneproperlyusingqualitylumber.
• Alwaysuseinterlockingcornerswhenbuildingcrates. • Donotlocatefastenersintheendgrainofwood,especiallyplywood.A fastener’sresistancetopulloutcanbereducedby35percentwhenlocated inendgrainratherthaninthesideoredgegrainofaboard. • UseplywoodnotOrientedStrandBoard(OSB),MediumDensityFiberboard (MDF)orParticleboard.Experiencehasshownthesematerialsdonot withstandthenormalrigorsoftransportationaswellasplywood. • Knotscannotbelargerthanone-thirdofthesurfacetheyappearin. Forexample,a3"-wideboardshouldnothaveaknotthatoccupiesmore than1"ofspaceacrossthewidthoftheboard. • Fastenersshouldnotbelocatedinknotsorotherdefectiveareasofthewood. • Usediagonalbracesoneachpaneltoincreasethe strengthandintegrityofthecrate.
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Corners and Diagonal Braces Diagonalbraceshaveadramaticeffectonthestrengthofacrate.Thegraphicsbelowillustratetherelativestrengthoffourdifferentdesigns.Itisnottheamountofwoodusedasmuchashowthewoodisused.
100Units 120Units 667Units 1130Units
NMFCItem245detailsdesignrequirementsforcrates.
Item 245 DEFINITION OF OR SPECIFICATIONS FOR CRATESCratesarecontainersconstructedofmembersmadeofsawnwoodorstructuralpanelsormetalwithaperturesbetween,ormembersmadeofsawnwoodorstructuralpanelsormetalcombinedwithfiberboard,securelynailed,bolted,screwed,riveted,welded,glued,dovetailed,orwiredandstapledtogether,havingsufficientstrengthtoholdthearticlepackedthereinsoastoprotectitfromdamagewhenhandledortransportedwithordinarycare.Cratesmustbeconstructedsoastoprotectcontentsonthesides,ends,topsandbottoms,andinsuchmannerthatthecratecontainingitscontentsmaybetakenintooroutofthevehicle.Contentsmustbesecurelyheldwithincratesandnopartshallprotrude,unlessotherwiseprovidedinindividualitems.Surfacesliabletobedamagedmustbefullycoveredandprotected.Allmoveablecontentswithinthecratemustbeblockedand/orbracedtopreventanyshiftingduringtransportation.Commoditieswithlegsmustbesuspendedawayfromalledgesofthecratebyatleastoneinch.Iftheweightofthecommodityexceeds500pounds,astandardcratemustbeusedinsteadofawireboundcrate.
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Wooden crates,otherthanwireboundcrates,mustbeconstructedasfollows: 1) Lumbermustbeseasoned,reasonablysound,andfreefromcrossgrainandknotswhichwould interferewithnailingorstapling,orknotswhicharegreaterthan1/3thewidthofthelumber. 2) Cratesmustbeconstructedwithouterframeworkconsistingofuprightandhorizontalmembers andwithadditionaldiagonaluprightandhorizontalmemberswherenecessarytoprovide properstrengthandrigidity. 3) Cratesmustbeconstructedwiththree-waylockingcorners,wherememberswillbejoinedwith nailsorstaplesdrivenintosidegrainofjoiningmembers.Examplesareshownbelow: 4) Alljoiningcratemembersmustbefastenedbydoublenailingorstapling. 5) Cratesmustbedesignedandconstructedwithtransversecross-membersatbasesufficientin strengthtoprotectundersideofarticlefromdamagebymechanicalhandlingequipment. 6) Structuralpanels,includingplywood,orientedstrandboard(OSB),andwaferboard,mustbe manufacturedwithexteriorglue.
Pipes and Similar Freight: Thesetypesofshipmentsrequirespecialpackagingtopreventdamagetotheproductandtopreventtheproductfromdamagingorpuncturingequipmentorothercargo.Thebestpackagingdesignisawoodencrate.
Pipecanbetransportedsafelyonproperlyconstructedoversizedpalletsiftheproductisproperlysecured.Themethodillustratedbelowworksformostpalletloads.
Anyshipmentwheretheproduct(s)cantelescopeawayfromtherestoftheloadwillrequireendprotection.
Examplesinclude,butarenotlimitedto,pipes,rods,tubing,antennacomponents,angleiron,steelorotherheavyobjects.
Bundle:Twoormorearticlesboundtogethertoformasinglepackageorpack.Multiplebundlesmayalsobecombinedtofurtherunitizealoadandensurecontainmentthroughoutdistribution.Thiscanbedonewithstrappingorfilamenttape.Bundlingincreasestheintegrityoftheloadandcanreducelossanddamageintheeventtheloadbecomesseparatedfromthepalletduringtransportationandhandling.
Pallet:Thepalletmustbeelevatedenoughtoallowforforkliftaccessandaidinhandling.Theplatformmustelevatetheentireloadatleast6"fromthegroundandallowforforkliftaccessfrombothsidesandbothends.Longshipmentswillrequireaplatformtoruntheentirelengthtoallowforendblocking.
Blocking:Materialsusedinpackingandloadingtomaintainshipmentsinafixedpositionduringtransitbybracingthemagainsttheshipment.Themostcommonmaterialusedforblockingiswood.Theblockingisfastenedtothepallettopreventtheloadfromshiftingandkeeptheindividualpiecesfromtelescopingoutfromtheendoftheshipment.
Securing:Usestrappingmaterialtosecurethebundledloadtothepallet.Thestrappingisdesignedtoholdtheshipmenttothepalletandpreventitfromcomingoutoftheblocking.Thestrappingshouldfitsecurelyagainstthebottomdeckboardsandnotbeexposedtotheforkliftblades.
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Drum and Pail Shipments Securing Drums to Pallets
Pallets • Mustbesturdyandstrongenoughtosupporttheload.Hardwoodlumberisrecommended. • Nobrokenboardsorprotrudingfastenersallowed. • Minimizegapsbetweenthedeckboards. • 4-wayforkliftentry
Corrugated Sheet • Mustbebetweendrumandpalletdecking. • Nopieceshouldbesmallerthanthebaseofonedrum.
Banding cleats • Securesthebanding • Preventssteel-on-steelcontactandslipping. • Spreadstheforceexertedbythestrapping.
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Loading the Drum • Keeploadasclosetocenteraspossible. • Donotallowoverhang. • Multipledrumsmustbebundledtightly togetherusingtheleastamountofpallet surfaceareaaspossible.
Strapping • Steelstrappingispreferredbecauseitstretchesverylittle. • Strapmultipledrumstogetherfirst.Thiscreatesoneunitthatis easiertosecure. • Usebandingcleatsunderthestrappinganddrumtodistributethe loadandpreventslipping.Thisisnotrequiredunderthestrapusedto bundlemultipledrumstogether. • Keepstrappingasclosetothedrumsidesaspossible.Thislimitsthe loadshiftingandprotectsthestrappingfromdamage.Thismayrequire
runningthestrappingbetweendeckboardsinsteadofouttotheedge ofthepallet.
Securing Pails to Pallets Securingpailstopalletsallowscarrierstohandlethemefficientlywithforkliftsandgivestheabilitytoeasilyblockandsecurethemduringtransit.
Spools and Reels Securing Spools and Reels Handlingissues:Theseitemscanrollandshiftduringtransportationduetotheirshape.Theyarehardtoliftandmovewithoutdamagingtheedgeorrim.Someproductspackagedonspoolsandreelscanonlybehandledintheverticalorientationwithouttheproductbeingdamaged.Spoolsandreelsshouldbesecuredtoaforkableplatformfortransportation.
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Blocking Materialsusedtokeepobjectsinafixedpositionduringtransportationandhandling.Themostcommonblockingmaterialiswood.Theblockingshouldbeplacedtightlyagainsttheobjectbeingsecuredtopreventanyandallmovement.Metalstrappingwillhelptoholdthereelinthe“cradle”.
Transit Cases Ifyouareshippingtransitcaseswithcasterwheels,theymustbepalletized. • Removethewheelsorusetraditionalblockingmethodstoprevent movementontheskid. • Ifthewheelsarenotremoved,thepalletdeckmustbesolidtoprevent wheelsfromfallingthroughtheslatsandbeingdamagedbytheforklift
Banding and Stretchwrapping Typically,anydamageduringtransittopalletizedcorrugatedboxesoccursbecausetheshipmentwasimproperlystacked,bundledorsecuredfortransport.ThisisaparticularissuewithretailgoodssuchasTVsandDVDplayers.Ifthereiscosmeticcartondamage,thecustomerislikelytoassumethecontentsarealsodamaged.
Load Protectors and Edge Boards Topandbottomload-protectorpads(corrugatedpad/tray)helpreducedamagetotopandbottomlayersofyourshipment.Theyalsohelpdistributetheweightoftoploadedfreight.Bottomloadprotectorsprovidealevelsurfaceandhelpkeepboxesfromslippingintothegapbetweentheboardsonthepallet.Corneroredgeboardsshouldrunthefulllengthofthestacktohelpstabilizetheload,increaseverticalstackingstrengthandreducedamagetoboxedgesthatmakeuptheloadcorners.
Banding Bandingistypicallyusedtosecurethebundledloadtothepallet.Youshouldbandcorrugatedstacksoneachsideasshown.Asageneralrule,keepthebandingclosetotheloadtoavoidexposure,damageorbreakage.BandCleatsorstrapprotectorswillpreventthebandingfromcrushingtheedgeofthecardboardboxesoredgeprotectors.
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Stretchwrap Forcompleteprotectionduringlongdistanceshippingapalletneedstobeunitized–wrappedtoptobottom.Baggedgoods,boxesgoods,cannedandbottledgoodaregoodapplications
Bags Addasolidbottomcushionorloadprotector(corrugatedpad/tray)tohelppreventpuncture,andusetheinterlockstackingmethodtohelpguardagainstproductsshiftingduringtransit.Allbagsmuststaywellwithinthepalletperimeter.Cushiontheoutsideofbagswithcardboard.
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Wrapping Techniques
Unitizationtechniquesincludex-wrapping,wrappinglowandcross-topwrapping.Acombinationofthesetriedandtestedtechniquescanprotectapalletizedshipmentfromfallingapartduringovertheroadtransit.
X-wrappingkeepsthepallettight,helpingtopreventloadshiftandgivesextrasupporttoheavyloads.Thetechniquepullstheloadfromdiagonalcorners,lockingthefreighttothepallet.Thismakesthefreightandthepalletoneunit.
Method:Anchorthestretchfilmtothebottomofthepalletbyslidingitbetweentheloadandthe pallet(diagram1).
Thenpullthefilmdiagonallyuptothetopcorneroftheload(diagram2)
Bringthefilmdownandcatchitonthediagonalpalletcorner(diagram3).Oncethefilmiscaughtonthepallet,bringitdiagonallyuptothetopoftheload.(diagram4).Thenbringthefilmdowndiagonallytothenextpalletcorner(diagram5).Repeatasneededtoassuretheloadissafelysecuredtothepallet.TocompletetheXpatternontheremainingtwocorners,skipatopcornerandtakethefilmalongthebottomofthepallet(diagram6).Aftercatchingthefilmonthepallet,proceeddiagonallyuptothenexttopcorner(diagram7.)ContinuingthisprocessontheremainingcornersformsanXpatternonallfoursidesofthepallet,securelyholdingthefreightduringtransit.
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Cross Top Wrapping Crosstopwrappingpullsthetopofthepalletizedloadtogetherandprovidesadditionalstabilizationduringtransit.Crosstopwrappingalsoprovidedadditionalsecurity.Freightcannotbepilferedwithoutshowingobvioussignsoftamperingduringtransit.
Method:Pullthestretchwrapdiagonallyacrossthetopofthepallet,holdingtherolltight.(diagram1).Oncethewrapisoverthetopcorner,diptherollbelowthenextcorner(diagram2).Raisetherolloverthefollowingcorner(diagram3)anddipitbelowthenextcorner.Continuethisprocess,eachtimemovingtowardthecenterofthepalletuntilthetopcompletewrapped(diagram4)
Oncethepalletizedloadissecuredtothepalletandtopcrossed–thepalletcanbestabilizedbysimplywrappingthesidesoftheload.
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Method:slidetheendofthefilmbetweentwoboxesorsecureittothepalletandpullthefilmupdiagonallytostarttopbanding.(diagrams1and2)
Pullthefilmtightlyaroundtheupperportionofthepalletandwrapittightlyaroundthecorner.Pullittightandtear.(diagram3and4).
PalletsmovingtheLTLenvironmentshouldeventieredandflattopped.InLTLtransportation,manydifferentcommoditiesareco-loadedandstacked.A“pyramid”shapedpalletissubjecttodamage.